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Toronto's chief planner wants Gardiner east taken down

In a position at odds with Mayor John Tory, Toronto’s chief planner says taking down the eastern section of the Gardiner Expressway, and replacing it with a boulevard, is the right choice for the city.

“It’s very clear removing is in the best interest of . . . (the) long-term vision, as articulated in our official plan,” Jennifer Keesmaat said Friday after appearing at an international landscape architecture conference.

“This is an opportunity for us to create a grand boulevard that weaves together the waterfront with the rest of the city, and opens up new development parcels, allowing us to create complete communities within walking distance of the downtown core.”

In what’s expected to a highly contentious debate on the floor of council next month, Keesmaat will be answering questions about the two options on the table.

“It’s not like my opinions on the matter were a secret, or they should be a secret — this is the role that the chief planner in the city plays, informing the decision making and the debate.”

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Keesmaat played down the fact her opinion differs sharply from the costlier, Tory-endorsed hybrid option, which retains most of the aging structure. “It sounds a bit melodramatic to say ‘oh, it’s an oppositional position to the mayor, but this isn’t an unusual thing to do, particularly on a matter of such critical importance.”

She added her recommendations are based on her professional expertise and the analytic work done by planning staff. As well, “I am free from some of the other constraints that politicians might have in making a recommendation.”

Tory minimized their opposing views Friday.

“We’re going to have a debate and we’ll hear from lots of people and we’ll make a decision — but I’ve set out my own position and she’s set out hers and she’s perfectly entitled to do that as the city’s chief planner,” Tory told reporters.

The mayor defended his decision to support the Gardiner hybrid option, saying it is the right balance between the economy, the city, the ability of people to get around and waterfront development.

On Friday, Keesmaat appeared at a conference at the University of Toronto sponsored by the Washington-based Cultural Landscape Foundation. Tory opened the conference but left before Keesmaat was interviewed on stage by Paul Bedford, Toronto’s chief planner from 1996 to 2004.

During the exchange, Keesmaat referred to the expressway as “antiquated, dark, crumbling infrastructure.”

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Bedford, who also supports the “remove option,” applauded Keesmaat for staking her position so clearly.

“That is what you’re expected to do. You’re not appointed the chief planner to sit on the fence. You’re supposed to give your best professional advice on all of these issues large and small,” he said.

In the late ’90s, Bedford was among those pushing to take down the Gardiner to Leslie Street, which initially put him at odds with the mayor of the day, Mel Lastman, and many east-end councillors. But they eventually “came around” and voted to dismantle.

“It’s very brave for a civil servant to speak truth to power,” he said Friday.

“She’s really joining a growing chorus of planners, and Toronto has some of the most world renowned planners and architects who live and work out of Toronto, there is no one at that level that feels that the status quo option is worthy of this city.”

Next week, the city’s Medical Officer of Health will weigh in on the fate of the Gardiner with a report on the health consequences of either option.

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